Education remains the key to both economic and political

“Education remains the key to both economic and political empowerment.” So declared Barbara Jordan, the great American orator, the first Black woman from the South to serve in the United States Congress, and a voice of moral thunder in an age of turmoil. Her words are no idle ornament, no polished phrase spoken for applause. They are a truth carved from the stone of history, a truth borne out by the struggles of her people and the struggles of all peoples. For without education, wealth slips through the fingers like sand, and without education, the people remain voiceless before the throne of power.

To understand her meaning, one must look to the bond between knowledge and freedom. The one who is educated may read the laws that govern him, may calculate the wages he earns, may discern when he is cheated, and may speak with clarity when he demands justice. The one who is uneducated is like a warrior sent to battle without sword or shield—he may have courage, but he is defenseless against cunning foes. Thus, Barbara Jordan speaks to us as a prophet of empowerment: economic strength grows where minds are trained, and political liberty endures where people are wise.

Her own life was a testament to this truth. Born in Houston, Texas, in a time when the color of her skin was deemed by many to be a barrier, she refused to let ignorance or prejudice determine her fate. Through education, she sharpened her intellect; through discipline, she trained her voice. When she stood in the halls of Congress and spoke of justice and the Constitution, even her enemies were silenced, for her authority came not from wealth or birth, but from the power of a mind honed by learning. She herself was the living proof that education is the ladder by which the oppressed climb into the councils of the powerful.

Consider also the story of the Civil Rights Movement. The marches, the speeches, the songs of freedom—they all drew strength from the quiet, patient work of education. Schools like the Highlander Folk School trained activists, teaching them how to organize, how to resist with discipline, how to speak truth with courage. It was not brute force that overturned centuries of oppression, but wisdom, study, and the fearless application of knowledge. In this, Jordan’s words ring eternal: political power is won not only by protest, but by education that equips the people to lead.

And yet, how often do nations forget this wisdom? They seek prosperity through industry while leaving their schools neglected. They seek liberty in elections while leaving their citizens unprepared to judge the words of the ambitious. But without education, both wealth and liberty crumble. A people untrained in thought are prey to demagogues, and a nation that neglects its schools builds palaces on sand. Jordan’s warning is clear: if we would be strong in commerce and in democracy, we must first be strong in learning.

What, then, is the lesson for us who hear these words today? Let every parent guard the education of their children more fiercely than they guard their gold. Let every community raise schools that kindle curiosity and courage, not mere obedience. Let leaders remember that to invest in education is to invest in the lasting greatness of a nation. And let every individual, young or old, see that learning does not end with childhood, but is the lifelong labor of the free.

So I say to you: seek knowledge as the hungry seek bread. Demand education as the thirsty demand water. Use it not for pride alone, but to build a society where wealth is justly shared and power is wisely guided. For Barbara Jordan’s words are not bound to her own age—they are an inheritance for all ages.

Remember them, therefore, as you walk upon the road of life: “Education remains the key to both economic and political empowerment.” Guard this key, wield it with honor, and pass it on to those who come after you. For in the hand of the wise, it will unlock the doors of justice, open the gates of prosperity, and secure the freedom of generations yet unborn.